When you've got a generational talent like Travis Hunter on your roster, everyone wants a piece of him—including his own teammates. Jacksonville Jaguars star defensive end Josh Hines-Allen recently made his preference crystal clear: he wants the two-way phenom lining up opposite him on defense as much as possible.
"As a defensive player, I want him on every snap with me to cover as a rusher," Hines-Allen told CBS Sports. "I would love for him to play corner all the time, personally, because I want my best players on the field at all times."
It's easy to see why Hines-Allen is so eager to have Hunter in the secondary. The former Colorado standout brings elite athleticism, sticky coverage skills, and exceptional ball instincts to the table. For a pass rusher like Hines-Allen, having a lockdown corner on the back end is a game-changer—it buys precious extra milliseconds for the rush to get home, turning would-be completions into hurried throws and hurried throws into sacks.
And based on the current roster construction, Hines-Allen just might get his wish. With the Jaguars' depth chart shaping up, Hunter appears poised to step in as the starting outside cornerback opposite Montaric Brown. While nothing is official yet, the pieces are falling into place for a defensive role that maximizes his impact.
"I'm going to do everything that I can to help him fulfill whatever the vision that they see him to be," Hines-Allen added.
Of course, Hunter's offensive talents won't go to waste. He'll still see opportunities at receiver, but with Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers already in the mix, the Jaguars' need for Hunter is far greater on defense. General Manager James Gladstone recently provided a rough timeline for Hunter's return to practice from injury, so the countdown to seeing this pairing in action is officially on.
As for Hines-Allen's assessment of his new teammate? It's simple: "He's just so gifted. He's that different. The way he runs, the way he jumps, the way he moves... I would hate to go against him."